The Little Lion - Château Léoville Las Cases - Saint-Julien 2019 4df5d4d9d819b397555d03cedf085f48

Wine Advocate

92-94 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe7/15/2020

The 2019 Le Petit Lion blend this year is 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc and 43% Merlot, harvested from the 20th of September to the 9th of October. The alcohol weighed in at 14.01% with a pH of 3.55 and an IPT of 75. It is aging in French oak barriques, 30% new. Managing director Pierre Graffeuille informed me that this wine is mainly a blend of the younger vines of Léoville Las Cases—three- to 20-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon vines—with some of the old Merlot (40-70 years) from the Las Cases enclosure. "It is a great combo to add old Merlot to young Cabernet Sauvignon!" he commented. Sporting a deep purple-black color, scents of Black Forest cake, blueberry preserves and ripe, black plums come bounding out of the glass, shadowed by hints of menthol, potpourri, spice cake and clove oil plus a waft of aniseed. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with energetic, juicy black fruits, framed by amazing freshness and ripe, grainy tannins, finishing with a lively, invigorating lift. This is very different from the grand vin and yet is a wonderful alternative expression of the vineyard. For true fans of Las Cases, I would really recommend buying both this and the grand vin, because together they create an even more interesting story of the vintage at this incredible property!

WeinWisser

18 / 20

the7/7/2020

Bettane & Desseauve

94-95 / 100

by Bettane & Desseauvethe7/3/2020

17-17,5

Yvesbeck.wine

92-94 / 100

byYves Beckthe6/19/2020

Pourpre violacé. Bouquet subtile et complexe marqué par les baies noires. Agréable fraîcheur et intensité fruitée. En bouche le vin se révèle par étape. Il est crémeux et friand et, de prime abord, il semble assez délicat. Néanmoins, la race et les tannins prennent de la dimension au fil des minutes. Que de densité et de race avec de la précision et une notion fraternelle. Le vin est délicieux et inspiré par son grand frère mais également par ses propres ambitions.
Bravo. 2024-2034. (Mai 2020)

Wine Enthusiast

92-94 / 100

byRoger Vossthe6/19/2020

Densely textured, this wine has lashings of black currant fruits to go with the open, spicy tannins. It has an almost jammy fruitiness, emphasizing the ripe Merlot in the blend.
It's proper second wine, made to age over the medium term. (June 2020)

Vinous

91-93 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe6/18/2020

The 2019 Le Petit Lion is a blend of old-vine Merlot and younger vine Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep and savory in the glass, the Petit Lion is wonderfully expressive today. Readers should plan on cellaring the 2019, as it has quite a bit of tannin lurking beneath all the rich fruit. More than anything else, it is the wine's persistence and finish that really stands out.

Vinous

90-92 / 100

byNeal Martinthe6/16/2020

The 2019 Le Petit Lion, matured in 30% new oak, was slightly muted on the nose and required 10-15 minutes to really open. Eventually it reveals crisp black fruit laced with ash and sous-bois scents. The palate is medium-bodied with pastille-like purity on the entry. Fleshier than the aromatics suggest, it is very well balanced with just a dab of sea salt towards the crisp, fresh finish. This will be a delight to drink over the next decade.

Jamessuckling.com

95-96 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe6/4/2020

This is really beautiful with blackcurrants, spice, black olives and blueberries. Full-bodied with chewy tannins. It's bright and focused. Excellent second wine from Las Cases. One of the best.